Measuring men's opinions of prostate needle biopsy

Needle biopsy of the prostate is an important, common, invasive procedure. Little is known about men's perceptions of it. The present study was designed to assess men's experience of prostate biopsy, to determine the feasibility of a randomized trial of interventions to alleviate distress during prostate biopsy, and to develop a pragmatic outcome measure for such a trial.

Of 33 consecutive men undergoing prostate biopsy at a Sydney (Australia), tertiary referral urology centre 31 men were selected for study. A cross-sectional, observational was performed. Participants completed both a 24-item questionnaire assessing relevant symptoms, attitudes and emotional responses and a semistructured interview shortly after their prostate biopsy. Each item of the questionnaire was rated on an 11-point scale from 0 (no trouble at all), to 10 (worst they could imagine).

The mean score for discomfort was 4.4 with 32% scoring > or =7; the mean score for pain was 4.2 with 29% scoring > or =7. The other most troubling aspects were: 'waiting for the result' (mean 4.4, 32% > or =7) and 'fear of the result' (mean 3.7, 32% > or =7). Seventy-one per cent of subjects stated that they would have been willing to participate in a randomized trial of interventions to make prostate biopsies less unpleasant. Thirteen of the 24 items were retained and refined for use as an outcome measure for subsequent trials.

Many men experience pain, discomfort and anxiety during prostate needle biopsy and most would be willing to participate in trials of interventions to make it less unpleasant.